So I’ve worked in IT for around 18 years now and in that time I’ve worked for 2 gaming companies, I started my most recent a year ago, but I’m wondering if I should just jump ship for the tech industry again, I’m now waiting for the layoffs in our business unit. I’m an immigrant living on a work permit and losing my job will mean losing the life I’ve made for myself over the last 4 years, and that terrifies me.
I used to love the company I work for but now I’m wondering if it’s worth it anymore.
I’d say keep an open mind when it comes to industry and environment. I got my start in game dev but quickly left it after I realized it wasn’t really for me. I bounced around for a while after that, even picking up a job teaching English abroad (probably not advisable in your situation) before returning back to the US and taking a job working for a nonprofit.
A lot of industries like healthcare, finance, education, and enterprises in general have need of developers with experience and they still pay decently well. It may not be as exciting as FAANG/Silicon Valley style dev work, but you’re likelier to find stability and a more manageable work/life balance. It helped me finally learn to work to live instead of live to work, and I can also still take some pride that the work I do is used to help people.